Car-dumping apparatus



Nov. 19, 1929. R. w. CAPPER 1,736,520

CAR DQMPING APPARATUS Filed April 1, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe away Nov.19, 1929. R. w. CAPPER 1,736,520

CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed April 1, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Nov. 19, 1929. R. w. CAPPER 1,736,520

GAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed April 1, 1927 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwvenkot0PM 11/. QD M/ 3%., WM, jm/zzw Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED? STATES; APATENT I opp-IC ROBERT-W. CAPIER, or GARFIELD H I HTS,- OHIO, ASSIGNOB;BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO INDUSTRIAL BRowm oIsT ENGINEERINGconronarron, A CORPORA- TION OF OHIO" Application filedv April 1;

"such means has embodied power -mechanism;

which looks the! device; after it; has. been moved into engagementWiththe car. This;

form of apparatus-is objectionable for the reason that if'a lump ofcoal, or other mate-' rial being dumped, should be caughtbetween thc'carandthe clamping member, then when the weight of the car is thrown on to:the clamping-member and the coal is crushed, the wheels of the car willleave-therails. This vobjectionhas been overcome-by the use of a systemof counter-weights.,- but such system has necessitated theconstructionof towers which increase the cost; of the dumperj to a: prohibitivedegree.

One of theobje ts-of the present invention is to make a rotary cardumper whichhas.

clamping'mechanism that can be operated to; locxthe ca'r onto the railsindependently-of any material which may be caught-between the clampingmember and the can. In addition, myinvention contemplates. theconstruction of a rotary car dumperwhichcan be successively operated to.holdthe car, clamped to the railsv without the necessity 'for anex- 30?tensive super-structure, such as has been here-v tofore required withthe use of counterweights. I

A further object of thisinvention is to make a rotary car dumper-whichis simple inconstruction yet has suflicient strength that it may besuccessively operated to permit the dumping of an extremely heavy load.7

Referring now to the drawings Fig: 1 is a vertical transverse sectionthrough a pit showing a car dumper embodying my invention, associatedtherewith, and illustrating the dumper in end elevation, the planeofthesection being indicated by the line 11 on- Fig; 2; Fig. 2 is-a sideelevation of the car dumper shown in Fig. land more particularly, is, alongitudinal" vertical section throughthe'pit on a plane indicated bythe line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a verticaltransverse section throughthe car dumper on a planeindicated by: the line ii-3 in Fig. 2;

can-Dunning; A-PBARATUS 1927 Serial No. 180,196;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and? are sectionstaken through the car dumper onlthe'planes indicated-by the correspondingly numbered lines invFig. 3 Figs.8*and; 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating the cable; reevingoperation" forv oneset of counter-weights while the car dumper, isrotated; Figs; 10 and 11 are two diagrammatic-v-iews showing thecable-reeving opera tion for another set of: counter-weights'during;thecar dumping-operation.-

The car "dumper embodying my. invention isillustrated as arotarycylindrical cradle 10 which is shown as having bearing rings 11 and12adjacent-the ends thereof-,and as having annular counter-weight guides13 dis-v posed at spaced intervals around; the. periphery thereofbetween the bearingi'rings. The; cradle isjournalled betweenvsetsofwheels ltarid-lflwhich are arranged toiengage each bearing ring. Thesets of wheels are shownas: beingrespectively journalled in bracketslfiand 17: which in turn are pivotally 0011- nected asat 1'8 and 19respectively to a base 20. The cradle isalso shown-as havingtransversely extending tracksi2lon which a carriage22 is mounted.Thecarriage has rails 23supportedthereon for receiving a car indicatedat 25. The cradle also has vertically eXtending-guideways 30 which arearranged in pairs-011 oppositesides of the car receiving space. Thereare four pairs of such guidewaSys illustrated in thedrawings lidablymountedwithin each: pair ofvertical guideways 30 is a car clampingmember whichinormally, as illustrated in Figs. 1. and 3, isdisposed outof engagement with the top ofthe In the preferred form, thisclampingdevice embodies two members 31 and 32 which are connected by ahinge pin 38, and which areadapted to slidably engage one of theguideways 30 The clamping devices are independently operable bycounter-weights so that acar' may be firmly held upon the rails eventhougha lump of coal, or other material, may be caught between the carand the 'clampingfmember. I I

In; the preferred construction, I employ two sets of counter-weights,oneindicated at 40, and. another at 41. These weights are mounted'tomove within the guideways: 1.3,.

when the cradle is rotated, and to facilitate such movement, the weightsare supported upon wheels 42 and 43 respectively. The weight is intendedto clamp the car to the rails, and to exert clamping pressure thereonuntil it is brought back nearly to the original position. The weight 41is much lighter than the weight 40, and is intended for use in raisingthe clamping device away from the car and holding it normally in suchraised position.

To eliminate the necessity for the use of an overhead super-structure, Iemploy reeving apparatus by means of which the weights may besatisfactorily supported upon the cradle, and yet may function tooperate the clamping devices in the desired manner. In Figs. 3 and 8,the reeving arrangement is illustrated as a cable 50, one end of whichis attached to the base 20 and the other end of which is attached to thecounter-weight 40. Leading from the base, the cable passesover sheaves51 and 52, which are mounted on the cradle and thence over sheaves 53and 54 which are mounted upon the clamping member 31,

thence around the sheaves 55, 56, 57 58, 59 and 60. In peripheralalignment with the sheaves to 60 are additional sheaves 61, 62, 63 and64 which are adapted to'be progressively engaged by the cable as thecradle is rotated in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8. Theselast mentioned sheaves engage that portion of the cable between thesheave 51 and the base 20 as indicated in Fig. 9.

Thus, the cradle moves with relation to the counter-weight 40 (exceptfor the slight movement necessary to permit the clamping device toclose) during the dumping operation. When in the position indicated inFig. 9, the counter-weight exerts maximum pressure upon the clampingmember even though the counter-weight stop 65 has moved from theposition shown in Fig. 8, to that shown in Fig. 9. In other words. thecounter-weight has rolled on the periphery of the cradle during thetilting movement.

Referring now to Fig. 10, the counterweight 41, is shown as holding theclamping device away from the car, so as topermit movement of thecar onand off the cradle. WVhile the clamping device is so held, the

other counter-weight 40 is held against the stop 65, and hence isexerting no clamping pressure. The reeving arrangement shown inFig. 1Oembodies a cable one end of which is fastened to the base 20 and theother end of-which is fastened to the counter-weight 41. Leading fromthe base the cable passes over sheaves 71, 72, 73," 74, 75, 76, 77, 78,79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85 and is then attached to the counter-weight.The sheaves 80 and 81 are mounted on the clamping device, while theremaining sheaves are mounted upon the cradle.

When the tilting operation of the cradle is started, the first action,as heretofore explained, is the movement of the clamping device againstthe car, under the force exerted by the counter-weight 40. This actioncauses the counter-weights 41 to move with the cradle until the clampingaction is effected, and then to move with relation to the cradle byrolling on the periphery thereof, in the guideways 13. While so rollingthe reach of the cable between the sheave 85 and the counter-weightprogressively passes over sheaves 86, 87 and 88, while the counterweightremains in the, position shown in Fig. 11 where it exerts maximum torqueand keeps the cable taut.

On the return movement of the cradle the counter-weight still remains inthe position shown in Fig. 11, until the stop 65 engages thecounter-weight 40, whereupon the weight 41 moves with the cradle andraises the clamping member away from the car.

To actuate the cradle for the tilting operation I have shown an electricmotor 90, which is suitably connected by reduction gearing to a shaft 91which extends for substantially the length of the cradle and carries apinion 92 near each end thereof. These pinions are adapted to engageannular racks 93 which are mounted upon the periphery of the cradleframe. In the'preferred arrangement, the motor is reversible so as topermit rotation of the cradle in either direction.

The operation of a car dumper embodying my inventionis as follows:Normally the carriage 22 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, that is.on the left hand end of the laterally extending rails 21. In suchposition, the rails 23 are in alignment with the rails 8 and 9 atopposite ends of the pit. The car to be unloaded is. then run into thecradle. The only movement onfthe part of the operator to effect thedumping operation is to start the motor 90. This rotates the cradle inthe direct tion shown by the arrow in Fig.1. As soon as the cradle hasbeen rotated a few degrees the carriage 22 starts to move along thetrackway 21, under the action of, gravity, until the side of the carstrikes the bumpers 95. A

In addition to the lateral movement of the car, the clamping devicesstart to move downwardly under the 1 action of the counterweights 40,but the distance which the devices must travel before the car isclamped, is sufficiently great that the car is in engagement with thebumpers before the clamping action iseffected. Since the'counter-weights40 are heavier than those indicated at 41, the last mentioned weightsare pulled upwardly with the cradle until the car is clamped to therails. Thereafter, both sets of counter-weights roll on the periphery ofthe cradle but on opposite sides thereof. In the meantime substantiallythe entire weight of the car is countera cted by the cradle. Suchcounteraction,130.

continues until the cradle has been rotated 90. During such movementpartof'the contents are emptied into the pit. Continued rotation of thecradle then shifts-the Weight of the car onto the clamping devices butsince'the counterweight 40 is heavier'than the Weight of the car, thecar is easily maintained on the rails. Thus, the cradle mayberotated1609, to effect a complete dumping operation While the car iseffectively clamped'tothe rails. If part of the contents should becaught between the car and any one of the clamping devices, and shouldsubsequently be'crushed, there is no danger of car movement occurringsince the counter-Weights 40 immediately force the clamping devices andthe crushed material against the car. By using independently actuatedclamping members, I can hold the {car in clamped position and candistribute the working stresses throughout the length "of the cradle.

After the car has been dumped, the operator need only reversethe-direction ofmoto'r rotation to bring the empty car back to originalposition. During such return movement; the car remains clamped totherails until the stops 65"engage the counter-Weights 40. Such engagementis effected before the cradle has returned to the original position, andthe position of each stop is so regulated that there is ample time forthe counter-weights 41 to remove the clamping devices from contact withthe car, to allowthe carriage 22-to roll, by

gravity, back to the position shown in Fig. 1;

A car dumper made in'accordance With-my invention is advantageous, inthat the entire action of the shifting and holding ofthe car isautomatic in operation. 'This eliminates the necessity for personalattention on the partof the operator except that'of starting theinotor,and reversii1git at the proper time; In this Way a train of carsmay be unloaded in an expeditious manner I-claim: i

1. A car dumper comprising in combination, a car receiving-cradle, meansforrotating the same, said cradle having vertically extending guidewaystherein, a clamping member shiftablein the guid'eways, acounterweightnormally-tending to hold the memher out of engagement with; a car in thecradle, another counter-Weight tending to force the membe'rfintoengagement with the car when the cradle is rotated, gsaid counterweightsbeing carried by and" mounted on opposite :sides of the cradle andadapted to move with reference thereto.

2. A car'dumper' comprising in combination, rotary car receiving cradle,means for rotating the same, a carclamping member carried by the cradleand shiftable with relation thereto, f two. counter-Weights, opera:

tively connected to the clamping memberJand carried by the cradle, onecounterweight tending to force the clamping member :into

engagement with "the "car, means .for render ing said counter-weightin'aetive "during a portion of thecradl'e rctativeimovement, and

the other counterweight being arranged to a release the clamping memberwhile the first mentioned counterweight is'ina'ctive.

A car dumper comprising in combine clamping member slidably mounted onthecradle, counter-Weights movabl-y carried by the cradle an'd'acting onthe member to' move it in opposite directions,.one ofsaidcounten Weightsbeing heavier than'the other, and means for rendering the heavier Weightin active to permit the lighter 'weig'h't t'o actuate the member duringa portion ofthe rotative movement of said cradle: I

5. A car'dum'per comprising 'incombi'na tion, a rotary cradle, means forrotating the same, a car clamping membermountedon the cradle formovement With reference thereto, two eounter-Weightsacting on saidmember and tendingto move it in opposite directions for clamping andreleasing pur'-' poses, one counter-Weight being heavierthan the other,a supportfor the oradleycables connecting the respective counter-Weightsto said support, guidesheaves forisaid cables, said sheaves beingmounted upon the cradle and clampingv ,themember in such manner that-onecounter-welght moves the member into'clamping position When the cradleis to tated a-pred'etermined amount in one direc tion, While the othercounter-weightxreleases' the clamping member "when the cradle is moved apredeterminedamou'nt in the opposite direction. 7

6; A car dumper comprising in combination, arotary cradle, acar'clamp'ing mom-- ber slidably mounted therein, means for rotating.the cradle, a counter-Weight actuated by movement of the cradle forautomatically moving the member into olampingposition after the cradlehas been rotated a predeter mined degree-in one direction, and a lightercounter-weight for releasing the member whenthe cradle has been rotateda 'prede't'er: mined degree in the opposite directiomsaidcounterwveights being carried by the cradle,

and being arranged to be moved With ref-K erence thereto'during the doping operation. a

7. A car dumper, comprising in combinaing member carried by the cradleand movable with reference thereto, a pair of comater-weights ofdifferent mass carried by the cradle and operatively connected to themember in such manner that the counter-weights move with the cradleduring a portion of the dumping operation, and then with reference tothe cradle during another portion of the dumping operation, whereby saidmember is automatically moved into and is held in clamping engagementwith the car.

8. A car dumper comprising in combination, a rotary car receiving cradlehaving annular guideways extending around the periphery thereof, aclamping member carried by the cradle and shiftable with referencethereto, a pair of counter-weights movable in said guideways, cablesconnecting the respective counter-weights to the clamplng member. saidcounter-weights being normally disposed on opposite sides of the cradle,one of said counter-weights functioning to urge the member into clampingposition, and other counterweights functioning to release the clampingmember.

9. A car dumper comprising in combination, cradle, a clamping devicecarried thereby and movable with relation thereto, and a counter-weightcarried by the cradle and movable with relation thereto, and meansanchored off of the cradle and connected with the counter-weight andclamping device for actuating the car clamping device into coaction withthe car during movement of the cradle, a lighter counter-weight on thecradle adapted to move the clamping device away from the car, and meansfor rotating the cradle.

10. A car dumper comprising in combination, a cradle, means for rotatingthe cradle, a clamping member mounted for radial'movement in the cradle,and a flexible member connected with the clamping member and anchored ata stationary point independent of the cradle and provided with acounterweight mounted on the cradle for actuating the member to clamp acar to the cradle consequent upon the rotation of the cradle.

11. A car dumper having in combination, a

rotary cradle, means for rotating the same, a car clamping membernormallyheld out of engagement with a car on the cradle, acounter-weight carried by the cradle and adapted to be moved along theperiphery thereof, a cable connected to the counterweight, andintermediately connected to the member and anchored independently of thecradle so that the member is brought into engagement with the car duringa portion of the rotative movement of the cradle, and is then held inengagement with the car during the remaining portion of the rotativemovement.

12. A car dumper, comprising in combina tion, a rotary car receivingcradle, a car clamping member carried by the cradle and movable withreference thereto, said memher being normally held outof engagement withthe car when the cradle is in one position, a counter-weight movable ina peripheral direction on the cradle, a support for the counter-weighton the cradle adapted to move away from the counter-weight wnen thecradle is rotated, and means for supporting the counter-weight from apoint off of the cradle, said last mentioned means being connected tothe clamping member, and functioning to urge it into clamping engagementwith the car and to hold it thereagainst during the rotative movement ofthe cradle in one direction.

13. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a cradle adapted tobe turned, a clamping device movably carried by the cradle, acounter-weight movably carried by the cradle, and means connected to apoint off of the cradle and to the counter-weight and intermediatelyengaging the clamping device to cause the clamping device to actautomatically when the cradle is turned.

14. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a cradle adapted tobe turned on an axis, a clamping device movably carried by the cradle,'acounter-weight movably carried by the cradle, a cable connected to astationary point and to the counter-weight and intermediately to theclamping device to cause the clamping device to act automatically whenthe cradle is turned on its axis, and means for automatically releasingthe clamping device when the cradle is turned in the opposite direction.

15 In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a cradle adapted to beturned and equipped with a set of sheaves, a clamping device movablycarried by the cradle and equipped with sheaves, a counter-weightmovably carriedby the cradle, and a cable anchored to thecounter-weight, thence passing acrosscradle sheaves, thence upwardlyacross clamping device sheaves and thence downwardly and finallyanchored 0d of the cradle.

16. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a cradle adapted toturn, a clamping device carried thereby and movable with relationthereto, a counter-weight carried by the cradle andmovable with relationto it, a support onthe cradle adapted to prevent movement of thecounter-weight on the cradle and means for causing the counter-weight toreact on theclamping device'when the said support is' withdrawn from thecounterweight;

17. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a cradle adaptedtoturn, a clamping device carried thereby and movable with relationthereto, a counter-weight carried by the cradle and movable withrelation to it, a support on the cradle for the counter-weightpositioned to release the counter-weight as the cradle turns from normalposition and a cable anchored off of the cradle and to thecounter-weight and intermediately movably engaging the clamping devicefor causing the counter-weight to react on the clamping device when thecradle is turned.

18. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a cradle adapted tobe turned, a clamping device therein, counter-weights of difi'erent sizemovably carried by the cradle and connected to operate the clampingdevice one in the clamping direction and the other in the idledirection.

19. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a cradle adapted tobe turned, a clamping device movably mounted therein, counter-weights ofdifferent mass carried by the cradle and a pair of cables connected tothe respective counter-weights and adapted to operate the clampingdevice, one in the clamping direction and the other in the releasingdirection.

20. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a cradle adapted toturn, a clamping device movably carried thereby, counterweights ofdifi'erent mass movably carried by the cradle, two independent ca lesrespectively connected to the counter-weights, and anchored at pointsoff of the cradle, both cables having an intermediate connection withthe clamping device.

21. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a cradle adapted toturn and equipped with sheaves, a clamping device movably carried by thecradle and equipped with sheaves, counter-weights of different massmovably carried by the cradle, two independent cables respectivelyconnected to the counter-weights and anchored at points off of thecradle, the cable attached to the heavier counter-weight passingnormally from its anchorage about a sheave on the cradle, thenceupwardly about a sheave on the clamping device, thence downwardly abouta sheave on the cradle, thence to the counterweight, and the cableconnected to the lighter counter-weight passing normally from itsanchorage about a sheave on the cradle, thence downwardly about a sheaveon the clamping device, thence upwardly about a sheave on the cradle,thence to the counter-weight, whereby the turning of the cradle in onedirection causes the heavier counter-weight to seat the clamping deviceand the turning of the cradle in the other direction causes the lighterweight to release the clamping device.

22. In acar dumping apparatus, the combination of a circular cradleadapted to be turned, a clamping device movably mounted therein, andmeans for actuating the clamping device in the active directionincluding a counter-weight movably mounted on the circular cradle in aposition to be lowered as the cradle turns from normal position, and

a cable leading from the counter-weight and anchored oil of the cradle.

23. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a circular cradleadapted to be turned, a clamping device movably mounted therein, andmeans for actuating the clamping device in the idle direction includinga counter-weight movably mounted on the cradle in a position to beraised as the cradle turns from normal position, and a cable lead ingfrom said counter-weight and anchored off of the cradle.

24. In a car dumping apparatus, the combination of a circular cradleadapted to be turned, a clamping device movably mounted therein, meansfor actuating the clamping device in the clamping direction including acomparatively heavy counter-weight movably mounted on the circularcradle in a normally upper quadrant thereof, and means for actuating theclamping device in the idle direction including a comparatively lightcounter-weight movably mounted on the circular cradle in a normallylower quadrant thereof. In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix mysignature.

7 ROBERT W. CAPPER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,736,520. Granted November 19, 1929, to

ROBERT W. CAPPER.

It is hereby certified that the assignee in the above numbered patentwas erroneously described and specified as "Industrial BrownhoistEngineering Corporation", whereas said assignee should have beendescribed and specified as "Industrial Brownboist Corporation, aCorporation of Ohio", as shown by the records of assignments in thisoffice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office. 1

Signed and sealed this 31st day of December, A. D. 1929.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

